Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-06-11
SPEECH
DELIVERED BY SENATOR JOHN
SHERMAN. AT SPRINGFIELD.
ILL, JUNE 1, 1887.
An ELEGANT Tribute to the Achievements
ofthe Republican Party-A scathiDg ne
~,.- of,ha Performances Of the Demo-
cratic Party Since 1s60-The issues OF
the Campaign Of 1888.

view OF the E0xIOE"6u Va sAAc
cratic Party Since 1s6o-The issues OF
the Campaign Of 1888.
Felto1c Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen:
tits with unaffected difidenoe that I &C
.eepted the invitation of officers and MEM
bers of the legislature of Illinois to SPEAK 70
vou here on the political issues of the DAY,
for know that they have been presented 70
Won by many eminent statesmen ana ORE
Tor of YOUR state in far more attractive
manner tn an I could hope TO copy. Still,
REGARDED this invitation as call OF pupn0
duty, and I hope to catch some OF the IN.
SEPARATION that springs from this fountaln OF
political intelligence. And now that nave
seen your city, have met You mere, ana noso
bean received 80 cordially, do not regret
my coming.
What YOU desire Of me, I presume, 10 q
statement of my views of the principles and
Tendencies of the two great political par,
ties of the country, for they must be tested
by these and not by independents opinions
or partial differences VIII ch always exist.
These principles are the natural outGroWtn
of the contest over the institution OF slavery
that has continued since the commandments
of Che government, but it was not until the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and the
Great debate that occurred in Illinois De-
tween Abraham Lincoln and Stephen a.
Douglas, that the philosophy OF slavery was
fully presented before popular audiences.
II vas This debate that lead to the nomina-
fion of Mr.. Lincoln and made him the frst
republican president Of the United State.
Then also was shown the destructive ten
denotes of the institution Of slavery and Its
msstery over the democratic party. Be-
cause Mr.. Douglas would not agree TO its
extreme demand it broke up the Charles
ton Convention and destroyed his last nope
fred upon Fort Sumter and commenced the
war that covered our land with heroic dead
and lsft among us hundreds of thousands OF
manned. wounded and invalid soldiers ar
Che widows of those who persisted. But
thank God, in this struggle slavery COM
mitted suicide, and the good time which
lincoln hoped would come in the far fu-
ture, came by the attempt at secession, ana
IL was his hand that wrote the decree OF
eternal Justice that abolished slavery for
ever.
It was the Republican party that guided
the ship of State through the perils and
storms of civil war. It msrshalled armies,
built navies, improvised Gu crency which to
this day is the best ever devised in peace or
war. It borrowed immense sums OF money,
and yet laid the foundation OF public cred
Il HIGHER in the markets of the world than
that of any nation in our own or In ancient
times. It also established public policy OF
taxation which, improved since the war, mas
oiled our Treasury to overlooking with
revenue, and yet has 30 encouraged, devel-
oped, fostered and protected our industries
that we can dig from our mines, make in
our own workshops and raise on our OWL
every article of necessity, convenience or
luxury essential to the highest civilization.
What did the democratic party do during
these irving times? That many thousand
democrats did their full share in maintain
ing the government, both in the field and IN
the public councils, must be conceded by
every fair minded man md the highest cred
ism, courage and devotion to duty. Chief
of these at the beginning of the contest wa.
Stephen A. Douglas. No man doubts that Il
he had lived he would have stood at the
right hand of Lincoln in the senate, and IN
Che field would have maintained the honor
of the flag and the integrity or the union
and, like Lincoln and Grant, would never
have yielded until the last rebel had iaio
down his arms in unconditional surrender
His speech made in the old state house here
ON the 25th day of April, 1861, after Mr.. Lin
coins first call for troops, is full OF passaget
of the most earnest patriotism. Genera
Logan says of it:
"He taught his auditory-he taught his
country, for his speeches were telegraphee
all over-the duty of patriotism at that per
ilous hour Of the nations life. He am
plored both democrats and republicans x
lay aside their creeds and platforms; to dis
oense with party organizations and part!
appeals; to forget that they were ever di
yided until they had first rescued the gov
ernments from its assailsnts. His argu
ments were clear, convincing and unansWer
able; his Appeals for the salvation of hi
country, irresistible"
Again he spoke in Chicago In the SAM
strain, and for the last time, for his vita
forces were exhausted, and on the 3rd o
June, 1861, before the great drama hat
fairly commenced he slept his last sleep
Fortunately for his fame he left behind hin
his nearest friend and disciple, man Wit
shared his counsel perhaps more closely thai
any other, who entered at once into the mil
itary service of his country, and from tn
beginning to the close of the war was gal
liant soldier, the very spirit OF chivairy
brave; strong, leading when he commanded
and sharing with his soldiers all the priva
tions and dangers Of war.
John A. Logan lived the life that believ
Douglas would have lived if death has spares
him. And now the marble images of Lin
+. coin and D ,uglas stand side by side in tn
rotunda of this Capitol, once adversaries il
debate, then friends, and now saints alik
in the galaxy of the patriotic dead OF tn
Republic. The marble statue of Logan
should complete the triumvirate.
But what was the course of the democrati
party during the civil war? Emasculstedb b,
the loss of the patriotic men who enteret
the service of their country in the time o
its peril, it was the representative OF all tn
disloyal elements Of our country.
Il gathered in its folds Knights Of tn
Golden Circle, the mob rioters of New Yorl
and the bounty jumpers and shirks: It hell
reasonable correspondence with rebel ennis
saries ON our Canadian border and conveys
intelligence to the enemy in. most critics
periods of the war. Il availed itself Of tn
apathy of critical moments and seized upo
the temporary advantage caused BY the II
suing Of the proclamation OF President Liz
.coln and the absence Of our soldiers In th
Geld, snatched victories at the elections Wit
q view to cripple and weaken the admins
tration, and, next 70 tho armed forces unde
General Les, was the most dangerous emf
my Of the republic during the fearful fou
years struggle Of our civil var. Il sough